Gone Too Far!

Friday 18^th October, 6.30pm – Odeon West End
Saturday 19^th October, 6.30pm – Hackney Picturehouse, Screen 1
Sunday 20^th October, 6.15pm – Vue West End, Screen 7

Set in a sprawling Peckham estate, Gone Too Far! sees two estranged brothers reunited and struggling to figure each other out. After growing up oceans apart, young Londoner Yemi (Malachi Kirby, Way to Go) is apprehensive about the long-awaited arrival of his Nigeria-raised older brother Ikudayisi (O.C. Ukeje, Half of a Yellow Sun). The boys are almost immediately at odds, with Yemi mortified by Iku’s “fresh off the boat” image, and Iku baffled by his brother’s brooding attitude.

Though a thriving comedy, the film also explores themes of racial prejudice and conformity: alpha-dog characters like Razer (Tosin Cole, Hollyoaks) and Armani (Shanika Warren-Markland, 4.3.2.1) are open in their distaste for Africans, and pride themselves on their English/West Indian heritage. This is something that Yemi is painfully aware of, and the bias sets a wedge between the brothers when Iku won’t conform.

The BFI-backed film is based on Bola Agbaje’s stage play of the same name, and stars a talented group of relative unknowns. Leading the young cast as the hot-headed Yemi is Malachi Kirby, who (despite the somewhat hostile nature of his character) is extremely watchable and seems to have an instinctive sense of comic timing. In a contrasting but equally enjoyable role, O.C. Ukeje is effervescent and warm as a patriotic Iku. Ukeje’s smile lights up the screen, and his infectious glee maintains the light, fun tone of the film even through the heavier themes.

The supporting cast are notable not only for their performances, but because their characters are so memorable. Cole is hilarious as Razer, the all-talk bully of the estate, who is essentially a jealous, lovesick puppy. Warren-Markland is larger than life as loud drama queen Armani, while Adelayo Adedayo (Some Girls) is aptly calm and grounded as the estate’s long-suffering voice of reason, Paris.

Gone Too Far! is witty, smart and fun. Audiences will get to know the brothers as the two come to know each other, and this is sure to lure the viewer into the world of “the estate” and make them feel part of the family. With its distinctly unique voice, Gone Too Far!  has all the potential to become a cult British comedy.

Aoife O’Driscoll

Gone Too Far! is released in the UK on 18^th October 2013.

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